Solar and electrical contractor in Clunes, NSW
Working in and around Clunes
Clunes is a small village in hilly country about 20 kilometres north east of Lismore, with a store, a hall, a public school and a number of old churches that give it the nickname the Holy City. It was a centre of early dairying, and the farms around it are still a mix of paddocks, small farms and rural homes on acreage. The work here is scattered across properties along winding roads rather than concentrated in a main street.
Getting to a property around Clunes usually means a long driveway, a gate and, on hilly blocks, a steep section, so we ask about the road before we set out. On acreage the power may arrive over a long run of poles, with the meter at the front or by the shed, and the house may be a long walk from either. Tell us the exact turnoff and any landmark on the way in, so the van does not end up on the wrong road.
Clunes housing runs from old farmhouses and timber cottages to owner built homes and newer houses on acreage. Wiring in the older ones has often been added to by different people over the years, and sheds, bores and tank pumps sit far from the house. Large clear roofs and open paddocks suit solar well, and when the supply is a long way from the road, off grid or battery backup becomes a realistic question.
What we do here most
What Clunes properties keep needing
On acreage the main questions are how far the power has to travel, what happens when it stops, and who owns the problem.
Off-grid
Powering a house far from the poles
A house a long way up a driveway can cost a lot to connect, so some owners look at running it independently. We work out what the house uses, at what time of day, and what the roof or a nearby clearing can supply. Then we tell you plainly what that means for a battery, a generator and how you live.
Solar
Ground or roof solar on open acreage
On a property with room to spare, the panels may go on a hillside frame or a large shed roof rather than the house. We look at where the sun reaches through the day, how far the array is from the board and what the cable run needs. Long cable runs cost power, so we do the sums before choosing the spot.
Batteries
Backup for a water pump and fridge
When the power stops on a rural property, the pump stops too, and so can the house water. A battery can keep the pump, the fridge and a few lights running for a while. We work out what you want kept on, how long it needs to last and where the battery can go that is dry, ventilated and away from the weather.
Repairs
Working out whether the fault is yours
When the lights go out on an acreage property, the cause can be inside the house, in the shed, or out on the line along the road. We test the board and the circuits first. If everything on your side checks out and the neighbours are dark too, we say so, and you ring Essential Energy rather than paying us to look further.
If it is urgent
If the power goes out at a Clunes property
- 1Look at your switchboard without opening it, check whether any switches have dropped, and see whether the neighbours' lights, or the lights along the road, are off as well.
- 2Leave alone anything that looks wrong outside, such as a pole, a sagging or fallen line, or a wet shed board, and keep animals and children well away from it.
- 3When you call, tell us the road name, the turnoff and how far the house is from the gate, what has stopped working, and whether the pump, the shed or the house is affected.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which areas do you cover?
The Northern Rivers of New South Wales, from our base at Dorroughby, between Lismore and Byron Bay. Twenty places have their own pages on the service areas page, but they are a starting point rather than a boundary. If you are not sure we reach your address, call and we will check.
Do you answer the phone after hours?
Yes. The phone is answered at any hour, every day, on the number at the top of this page. Call with your address and what you are seeing, and we will tell you what to leave alone and what happens next.
Do you work on farms and businesses as well as homes?
Yes. The work runs from a single house roof to sheds, workshops, shops and farm buildings, on mains power and off it. Tell us what the building is used for and when it is busy, because that decides when the work can happen.
What should I send when I enquire?
A photo of your switchboard with the door open, a photo of the roof or the spot where equipment would go, and a recent power bill if you have one. If you already have a system, add a photo of the inverter and any error on its screen. Photos let us give you straight answers before anyone visits.
Will my solar keep working in a blackout?
A standard grid-connected system switches itself off when the grid goes down, even in full sun, and that is a safety feature. To keep some power on during an outage, the system needs a battery set up with a backup circuit. Which circuits go on that backup is decided with you before the work starts.
Can I add a battery to the solar I already have?
Often yes, but it depends on the inverter you have now and how the system is wired. Some inverters take a battery as it is, and others need replacing or adding to first. Send a photo of the inverter and we will tell you which it is likely to be.
What is the difference between grid-connected, hybrid and off-grid?
A grid-connected system works alongside the street supply and has no battery. A hybrid system uses one inverter to run the panels and a battery together. An off-grid system has no street connection at all, so the panels, battery and a backup generator input carry the whole property.
Can you work on a system someone else installed?
Yes. The first step is finding out exactly what is there, which means opening the switchboard, checking the cabling and reading what the inverter reports. After that we tell you what can stay, what should be repaired and what should be replaced.
Why does my solar system keep switching off or showing an error?
There are many possible causes, from a failing part to a loose connection or a fault on one string of panels. We trace the fault step by step and read the error codes before anything is replaced. Send a photo of the inverter screen and tell us when it happens.
What should I do if I see damage or smell burning near electrical equipment?
Keep clear of it and keep children and pets away. If there is fire or smoke, call emergency services first. Then call us, tell us what you saw and where, and leave the equipment alone until it has been checked.
Will the power go off while you work?
For most solar, battery and switchboard jobs the power is switched off for part of the day. We tell you when it will go off before we start, so you can plan around fridges, medical equipment and anything else that needs to keep running. Ask about it when you book.
Do you work on properties with no mains power?
Yes. Off-grid work starts with a list of what you run and when, because that decides the size of the panels, the battery and the inverter. We also look at the site itself, including shade, access and how far the equipment sits from the house.
Everything we do here
Services in Clunes, NSW
The twenty things we do across the Northern Rivers include the off grid, battery and long cable work that acreage and farms around Clunes tend to need.
Local, and on the phone
Solar and electrical work around Clunes
Tell us the road you are on and roughly how far the house is from the gate, as well as how many buildings on the property have power. That decides how long the visit takes and what we bring up the driveway.
0417 415 47424 hours a day, 7 days a week
Not urgent? Send us the job instead